AN AMBITIOUS programme of job and business-boosting initiatives could draw almost £800,000 of investment into West Somerset and give the local economy a major kickstart.

The raft of measures - ranging from a scheme to stem the exodus of university graduates from the district to the appointment of a town centre manager for Minehead - were unveiled on Wednesday.

West Somerset Council revealed how it intends to use some of the £1.84 million of Government grant aid it has been allocated through the Working Neighbourhood Fund.

The authority's economic regeneration officer Corinne Matthews said the various initiatives were aimed at:

l Improving employment opportunities for young people.

l Encouraging young people to seek employment and enterprise opportunities in West Somerset.

l Providing employment for the long-term unemployed.

l Improving accessibility to skills and training.

l Supporting business and enterprise.

Some of the measures are also designed to help local businesses take advantage of the economic opportunities the proposed new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point will bring, which Ms Matthews said should not be underestimated.

The council will be contributing £246,000 to fund the various schemes, leaving it with more than £812,000 in the WNF pot.

But is hoping to lever in a further £500,000 of external funding, some of which has already been secured, along with the partners who will deliver the majority of the measures.

The economic programme includes the creation of a young advisors network, which will use locally recruited, professionally trained and paid 15 to 21-year-olds to provide links between professionals, young people and their communities.

The new advisors could seek outside funding to develop specific programmes for young people, involving them in the local economy with apprenticeship schemes, local training and business start-up funds and mentoring.

Middle school age youngsters could also be given a unique insight into the world of business through a scheme that would bring volunteers from local companies into the classroom.

And access to training could be improved with the creation of an internet-based radio station.

Skills FM would broadcast micro-skills training, provide technical support and act as a communication medium for individuals, small businesses and organisations.

In addition, a total of 25 new jobs for long-term unemployed young people aged between 18 and 24 could be created through the Government's £1 billion Future Jobs Fund.

Aimed at supporting significantly disadvantaged people in the labour market, the fund would provide up to £6,500 for each job created, with a minimum of 25 hours a week and paid at the national minimum wage.

Local employers, including Magna Housing, CLOWNS, West Somerset CVS and the National Trust, have already signed up to the scheme.

Other initiatives include the creation a £20,000 fund to provide flexible training for the unemployed on their doorstep and a £40,000 business mentoring scheme.

Meanwhile, the 'Starting Out' and 'Lift Off' projects are aimed at providing both career opportunities for young people and for businesses to employ staff.

Starting Out will be aimed at school and college leavers, providing placements for at least a year with businesses on the cusp of growing but unable to afford to pay a full-time salary.

Lift Off will strive to place young graduates with local businesses that can offer specific skills but also want to benefit from a 'fresh pair of eyes', commitment and enthusiasm.

Other measures could see the appointment of a development worker to help people bid for cash from the Local Action in Communities Fund to boost economic and business activity in the area, and the creation of a £100,000 fund to provide loans and business advice for people starting up or expanding businesses.

Also included in the programme is building on the success of the West Somerset Business Forum - set up nine months ago to provide a forum for communication and networking between the local business community.

And in Minehead, the focus will be on the regeneration of the town, described as a tourism hotspot and a business intensive area.

Minehead Chamber of Trade has already been working on a number of projects and activities to improve the town's economic viability and the council will be supporting a funding bid to appoint a part-time town centre manager, improve signs and an attempt to secure Business Improvement District status.

Former chamber of trade chairman Graham Sizer told a meeting of the cabinet on Wednesday, at which the programme was unveiled, that he welcomed the numerous initiatives, in particular the town centre manager post.

Mr Sizer praised the efforts of Ms Matthews and said one of the biggest benefits could be her determination to get all sections of local commerce "round the table'".

He also said the "landscape" between the council and local businesses had changed dramatically over the past two years for the better and the current administration was still taking flack for the actions of those previously in control.

But Mr Sizer warned Minehead was likely to take longer to pull out of the current recession.

"It may only be emerging when the new Morrison's supermarket opens - and we will definitely need a town centre manager then," he said.

Deputy leader and lead member for economic development tourism and transport Cllr Michael Downes said the WNF money had enabled the council to attempt to do things it would otherwise be unable to afford.

"These range of proposals are designed to make a real difference to the local economy."

He said young people, in particular, had borne the brunt of the recession: "We are taking actions that will give them some hope."